DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - COUNTRY FACT SHEET GENERAL INFORMATION Climate & Weather The average temperature in Time Zone UTC – 4 hours. Santo Domingo varies little, because the tropical trades winds help mitigate the heat and humidity throughout the year. Language Spanish. Currency Dominican Peso. Religion Mostly Catholic. International +1 809 Dialing Code Population 9,900,000 approx. Internet Domain .do Political System Republic. Emergency 911 Numbers Electricity 110-120 volts. Capital City Santo Domingo. What documents Common documents Please confirm Monthly to a bank account. required to open required are: how salaries are a local Bank • A copy of the paid? (eg monthly Account? identification page of the directly into a Can this be done Passport Bank Account) prior to arrival? • Copy of the work contract. • Contact information • Work Visa No, typically this has to be completed in person at the local bank. 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Culture/Business Culture The Dominican Republic has an informal business culture, in which networking and personal contacts are very important. Business relationships are largely based on trust. Appointments should be made in advance, and it is important to arrive on time, although Dominicans may arrive a little late. Health care/medical Public and private healthcare is available. Private is recommended treatment as public is bureaucratic and has longer wait times. Education Please note that public schools are not recommended in Argentina, therefore children of expats will usually attend a private school. Most major cities will offer excellent international and bilingual schools. Utilities Utilities are usually not included as part of the rent. Costs vary based on family size and usage. In order to obtain services, local documentation and proof of residence is required. Food & Drink Dominicans call their cuisine comida criolla, which is a blend of Spanish, African and Taino elements, with variants across the island. Dishes usually include rice and beans. Leisure/Entertainment/ There are several malls, resorts, and sports activities available in the Sport major cities. Security Walking and driving in expat areas is mainly secure. If foreigners decide to go outside these, the recommendations is to use precaution, avoid flashy jewelry and avoid walking while talking on a cell phone. Driving All foreigners who have a valid driver license issued in their country of origin will be able to drive in the Dominican Republic for a period of 90 days from the last date they entered the country. Once this period ends, foreigners will have to obtain local license. Public Transport The country has three national highways, which connect every major town. There are bus companies and the Santo Domingo Metro, the first mass transit system in the country. The metro is currently the largest in the Caribbean region by length and number of stations. 2 GENERAL INFORMATION Taking Pets Most times vaccine certificates and letters from the vet are necessary. It’s best to check with each airline on detailed information about flying with a pet. Expat Groups There are expats groups especially online but the best place to know other expats is to take Spanish classes in specialized schools. Cost of Living Cost of living will depend on one’s lifestyle which can be costly or inexpensive. How much is - $57 RD/liter of milk 1 litre milk: A loaf of bread: - $48 RD/ loaf of bread 1 litre of petrol: - $60 RD/liter of petrol HOUSING AND TENANCY INFORMATION Do expats tend to live in specific areas/ Yes. Arroyo Hondo, Los Rios, Los Prados, Las compounds or standalone properties Praderas, Urb. Fernandez, Julieta Morales, throughout the city? Quiqueya, El Millon, Mirador Norte, La Julia, Ciudad Universitaria, Gazcue, Miramar, Costa Azul. How long does it take between finding and It depends upon negotiations with the landlord, securing a property? lease review time needed to approve the contract and how payments are managed. The average time to secure a property is 2 to 3 weeks. How many days face to face home search Single 2 - 3 days package without any unforeseen problems are Couple 3 - 4 days required for Family 4 - 5 days Please advise availability of Furnished and Both furnished and unfurnished properties can Unfurnished properties and please advise be found. Furnished properties will include all what is normally included in Furnished and furniture and appliances. Unfurnished (eg. Carpets, curtains etc) What is the length of a normal tenancy agreement? 12 months. 3 HOUSING AND TENANCY INFORMATION When are rental payments due? Monthly Quarterly Yearly Other Explain when other: What is normally the term to give notice? 30 days. What are usually the tenancy renewal terms? 30 day’s notice and sign a new lease addendum What break clauses are generally available e.g. Diplomatic clause = 30 day’s notice and no business/diplomatic, and what time scale can penalty. notice be given eg. 2 months after 6 months Is a deposit paid and how much will this Yes, one month of rent. It is held by the landlord. be? Who holds the deposit and how is this protected? In what name can the tenancy agreement go? Individual usually. Very few landlords will accept Eg. Individual, company the company to be tenant but they can sign as guarantors. When a property has been found – does a No, we don’t recommend this as it may not be holding deposit has to be paid and how much? returned if the negotiation is cancelled for any Will this secure the property reason. What information does a tenant or occupier Employer references, official id copy, and copy need to provide before being able to secure the of work contract or employment letter. property eg. References, employer’s reference, ID copies Can properties be taken and rent paid at any Any time of the month, the most common is the time of the month or only on the 1st of the 1st and 15th of the month. month? Are rents paid in currency of the country Yes No Is short term accommodation available? Yes however pet friendly options are difficult to find. During tenancy who normally manages the Tenant property? Are there any broker/government/agency fees The realtor commission but it is paid by the to be paid owner. 4 HOUSING AND TENANCY INFORMATION Any other cost that client should be aware of Services/utilities charges. These are paid when taking on a property? Such as tenancy directly by tenant to the provider. preparation charges, government and service charges Are tenancy agreements in English? No, but it can be translated for an additional fee. OTHER SERVICES Is Rental furniture available? Yes, it is available. Is there any information you wish to share with us? 5.